Another funny noise question

[MysticBlue]

I get in, close the door, start it, the seat belt is handed to me and I put it on, I put it in gear and start backing out. That's about when it starts... a humming electric motor type noise from up under the dash. It sounds like from the left end, under the dash, to the left and above my feet. My hearing is not great so I could be mistaken on exactly where it's coming from, but it lasts for about 5 seconds then is done. Anybody know what this is?

[Blake]

it's probably the nav dvd player reading the nav disc.

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by Blake

it's probably the nav dvd player reading the nav disc.

No dvd reading... it's an '09.

[MentholGuy]

I have same "Hummmmm" sounds, but it goes off about 5 sec later..
I feel like it's coming from upper dash (driver's side) area, but have no idea what it is..

[kmarei]

could it be the flap for the auto recirculate opening or closing?
i noticed that too and i think thats what it is

[MysticBlue]

Just checked it out again... Turned on the ignition without starting the engine and waited. Navigation, HVAC, and everything else came up, but no noise from under the dash. Started the engine and waited, still nothing. Put it in gear and waited, nothing. Started rolling, there it is, about 5 seconds after I started rolling. Forwards or backwards, doesn't matter. I seem to vaguely remember something about a structural lock that is inserted into the door for side crash integrity. Could this be that? I listened after I shut it down and couldn't hear anything going the other way.

[urbo73]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

I get in, close the door, start it, the seat belt is handed to me

That's pretty funny. I remember driving the coupe (before I got my sedan) and thinking that was cool. But then I somehow got it to go out of rhythm and it would not hand itself back to me! Hmm..

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by urbo73

That's pretty funny. I remember driving the coupe (before I got my sedan) and thinking that was cool. But then I somehow got it to go out of rhythm and it would not hand itself back to me! Hmm..

Yah, she's polite, but not pushy... She hands it to you but if you don't take it, eventually she takes it back and you're on your own.

[Blake]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

Yah, she's polite, but not pushy... She hands it to you but if you don't take it, eventually she takes it back and you're on your own.

[RandyB]

Mine does this too and I don't have i-drive or nav so it's not anything related to that.

[jbeene]

Yes, mine does this as well. I figured it had something to do with pressuring up lines - oil, fuel lines or something?

I seem to recall my 335's doing it as well but not as loud or for as long.

[2008bimmerM3]

yup have it too, i thought I had some kind of special suspension that was adjusting air or something, its like a buzzing type of air noise or something, and i do not have navi, dvd, or EDC, it kind of sounded like the front left suspension was adjusting itself because of an slight incline in the road

[MysticBlue]

C'mon...somebody must know.
I'm just gonna keep bumpin' it 'till someone comes up with an answer.

[bmwm4f82]

DCT Hydraulics? ( I have this noise too)

[Romo]

Mine aswel, 6 MT, so not only DCT................

It does sound like a pump.............anyway; it seems to be normal....

[samM376']

I going to go ahead and guess either fuel pump and all the check systems getting ready to start the car
Or you are in the dark or still in your garage and listening to the auto leveling systems and xenons turning on and powering up
Maybe you move settings when you turned off your cars and than the auto settings you have in place for climate controls are resetting so closing electric flaps etc

[urbo73]

Ummm...were you all driving Toyota Camrys or something before? Sporty cars don't insulate otherwise normal noises as much. Noises, vibrations, etc. are all more pronounced and quite normal. The first time I got into an open wheel Formula Ford ZTEC car (in SCCA racing), I though the damn thing was going to fall apart. It was noisy, felt like it moved around from under me, etc. At pretty damn high speeds too. You'd be surprised how noisy and "shaky" race cars are, no matter how composed and refined they look from the outside. You get used to it. After doing that for some time, I had to get re-conditioned for road cars. It felt weird to NOT have noises, whines, vibrations, clanking, etc.

[MysticBlue]

I'm not complaining or worried about the noise... It sounds like it's doing something it's supposed to be doing. I'm just curious what it is. It's not the fuel pump. I'm familiar with that (my 3rd BMW), which comes from the rear of the car. Not DCT, somebody with 6MT already noted they get it too. I'm also familiar with the self-leveling lights and it's not that, it happens after they do their thing. I don't normally make any changes to the HVAC system. Just starting the car doesn't do it. Just putting it in gear doesn't do it. The only thing that seems to trigger it is to start rolling after starting it. Either forward or backward, sometimes it does it almost immediatly after movement, in my driveway, sometimes it doesn't happen until I've driven halfway down the block. Pulling out of a parking lot going forward, backing out of my driveway, uphill, downhill, level, doesn't matter, it's pretty consistent, other than the timing.
Does the EDC system have some kind of hydraulic pump associated with it or is it all electronic? Has anyone without EDC noticed this?
I'm certainly not loosing any sleep over it... just curious.

edit: I see someone already mentioned they don't have EDC, so that's not it.

[nullspace]

Mine does it too. My guess is that it's the power steering pump. Try turning the wheel while idling before you actually move to see if it makes the noise.

[Reedomn]

Just noticed it also...anyone know??????

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by nullspace

Mine does it too. My guess is that it's the power steering pump. Try turning the wheel while idling before you actually move to see if it makes the noise.

Thought you might have something there... but I don't think so. Sometimes it happens right away, without touching the steering wheel. Other times not. I tried steering back and forth before backing out and nothing... it didn't happen until I was half a block down the street.

[Rick]

anybody figure this out yet?

I have the same sound shortly after ignition.